A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11947, 5 March 1917, Page 3

A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS.

ASHBURTON. The general committee of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association met on Saturday afternoon. The president. Mr J. Bruce, was in the chair. A letter was read from Mr Alexander, director of Lincoln College, with reference to the class of sheep which should be provided for the judging competition.

The matter was left in the hands of the Sheep Committee. THE SHOW GROUNDS.

Tho chairman reported that a letter of protest had been forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs against the Ash burton show grounds being included in tho Ashburton borough boundaries in connection with the proposal to amalgamate that portion of the Hampstead Town Board district known as Netherby, with the borough. The County Council was also interested in the matter', and it had been suggested by that body that a road should be given in lieu of the show grounds and the saleyards Reserves being brought within the borough boundaries. The matter was left iu tho hands of the chairman to act with the County Council, and to meat the Government Commissioner when ho visited the locality for the purpose of fixing the boundaries. DESTRUCTION OF RABBITS.

The County Council wrote in reply to tho association's resolution asking that body to take immediate steps to deal effectively with the rabbit pest, and stating that the council had clone what it could by poisoning to check tho spread of 'the rabbits, and was now ready to supply fanners with rabbit poison at a small cost. If the farmers would work together they would soon be able to get the rabbits under. The chairman stated that in passing the resolution at the last meeting there had boon no intention whatever to cast any reflection on the council's inspector of reserves with reference to the poisoning of the rabbits in the council's plantations. Mr D. G. Wright, the mover or the resolution which had been forwarded to the council, expressed the opinion that that body was asking too.much of its inspector'when setting him to lay poison for the rabbits. The speaker certainly had no intention of casting any reflection on the inspector. Mr J. Cairns said that the County Council always employed special and competent men to lay tho poison. The trouble was that the farmers did not do their part to destroy the rabbits on their properties, and the unnojsoned rabbits quickly travelled from the farms on to the council's plantations, and then the blame was laid on the council - Mr C Reid said the only thing to do was to request the Government to see that the provisions of the Rabbit Act were strictly carried out in all cases.

MANAGEMENT OF SOLDIERS' FARMS.

The chairman reported that m reference to the committee which had been appointed at the last meeting to bring up a report on the question of tho management of the farms of those in the county who had been or who might in the future be called up for active services, a> number of practical men had already volunteered their services to supervise the farms. lie considered that that showed a gratifying patriotic spirit on behalf of the farmers of the county. The matter would be further considered and fully gone into after the visit of the Efficiency F-oard Commissioner, Mr Frostick, on Tuesday, when they would have the different schemes fully explained to them. Bo hoped and trusted that there would be a large attendance of farmers from all parts of the district. MISCELLANEOUS.

Messrs Anderson Brothers, T. 9. Little, -T. Nixon and A. 0. Silcock were elected members of the association. A vote of thanks was accorded the Ashburton branch of tho Farmers Union for a donation of £3 3s towards the prize fund. Correspondence was read from the Hon James Allen, Acting-Prime Minister, in reply to the association's resolution with reference to conserving the man power of the dominion, and stating that the Government had no desire to take away, men for active service who were wanted to carry on the essential industries of the Dominion.

It was decided that in reference to stock exhibited which were for sale that the sale ticket* should be exhibited only on the pens, stalls or on stands, and that on all animals sold the association should receive a commission of 2£ per cent. Heartv votes of thanks were accorded to Mesdames T. Barber. A. Hewson, W. Patching and the other ladies who had assisted at the catering at the afternoon tea given by the association to a special draft of soldiers who had recent!v h-'ft Ashburton.

Tho "secretary reported that- the entries for the corning show were highly satisfactory, and a long way in excess of what was anticipated would be the case.